Monday, July 13, 2009

Weekly Geeks 2009-26: World Travel

This week's Weekly Geeks asks you to tell us about your globe trotting via books. Are you a global reader? How many countries have you "visited" in your reading? What are your favorite places or cultures to read about? Can you recommend particularly good books about certain regions, countries or continents? How do you find out about books from other countries? What countries would you like to read that you haven't yet?

Use your own criteria about what you consider to be "visiting" -- whether a book is written about the country or by a native or resident of the country.

For fun, create one of these maps at this website ticking off the countries you've read books from - you might be surprised how many (or how few!) countries you've read. Include the map in your blog post if you're so inclined.

Feel free to tell us about any actual world traveling you've done in addition to your literary travels.

When you're done with your post, come back here and sign Mr. Linky with the post address. Then be sure to visit your fellow Geeksters to see where in the world they've been. Happy traveling!

Here is my map:

I counted both the setting as well as the author's nationality, because both have a large affect on the story. It is amazing how centralized we as readers can become. Most of my reads are either set in the UK or are by a British author. But I do also enjoy reading stories from around the world.

Here are some samples of my global reading:

Canada- Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

The United States- A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor

The UK- The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Algiers- The Plague by Albert Camus

Russia- The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Israel- Ben-Hur by Lew Wallace

Switzerland- Ashenden by W. Somerset Maugham

As you can see by my map, I am severely lacking in classics from Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America. So if you know of any great literature either set in or by an author of the region, please suggest them.

3 comments:

I just read The Thorn Birds which is set mostly in Australia. Also, have you ever read any Bill Bryson? His In a Sunburned Country is about Australia and is pretty entertaining. For Asia, have you read anything by Lisa See? I really liked Snowflower and the Secret Fan and Peony in Love, both set in China.I could go on and on giving recommendations but I'll let some other people have a chance!

I second Lahni's suggestion of The Thorn Birds for Australia. For China I love Lisa See but also love Amy Tan. Memoirs of a Geisha is a great book for Japan. I love your choices! I need to give Ashenden a try!

My Profile

About This Blog

This blog allows me to share my opinions of the books I have read, my general thoughts concerning reading, my Christian view on each story, and my love of great literature. I hope, reader, that while you remain in my humble abode, you feel free to give me your opinions, share your thoughts, and make suggestions as to books that I should try. Happy Reading!